Picture and lamp holding bracket assembly

ABSTRACT

A combination adjustable picture mounting and lamp holding bracket assembly is provided for attachment to the back surface of a picture frame. The base portion is secured to the picture frame and includes a serrated band extending across the base portion to permit a relative adjustment of the picture frame with respect to the fastener. A cross-sectional U-shaped member is adapted to receive an extension member connected to a lamp for suspending the lamp beyond the perimeter of the picture frame for illumination purposes.

United States Patent [1 Benjamin Mar. 18, 1975 PICTURE AND LAMP HOLDING BRACKET ASSEMBLY [22] Filed: July 2, 1973 [21} Appl. No.: 375,959

[52] US. Cl 248/496, 240/2 R, 240/4.l [51] Int. Cl. F2lv 33/00 [58] Field of Search 248/298, 476, 477, 48), 248/495. 406, 497 498; 40/131 R. 152.2; 2.40/41, 4.2, 2 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 723,700 3/1903 May 240/4.1 X l.07l,725 9/1913 Franks 1 i 240/4.2

l,l2l 585 12/1914 Hirsch I 240/4.2

2,263,901 11/1941 Olney 1 248/496 2306294 12/1942 Brown et al. 108/152 2,483,114 9/1949 Van Schoor et a1 248/496 2,641,427 6/1953 Krough 3,475,603 10/1969 Gheno 240/2 R Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney, Agent, or FirmJackson & Jones Law Corporation [57] ABSTRACT A combination adjustable picture mounting and lamp 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PICTURE AND LAMP HOLDING BRACKET ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention.

The present invention is directed to a device for hanging articles such as pictures and more particularly, to a combination adjustable picture mounting and lamp holding bracket.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

A large number of picture hanging devices have been provided in the prior art to solve the well-known balance problem of hung pictures. Picture hangers of recent vintage have been directed to providing both adjustment of the picture relative to the hanger and a minimum of damage to the support surface. For example, patents such as the Fellows U.S. Pat. No. 3,622,116 and Morrison U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,666 attempt to remove any tilting problem while permitting a relatively wide range of both vertical and horizontal adjustments.

Frequently, adhesive cloth hangers are provided to obviate the problem of penetrating the supportingwall surface with a fastener such as a nail.

Some of the securing devices utilized in the prior art have sometimes taken elaborate and rather complicated forms such as the Silverman US. Pat. No. 2,876,972.

In general, the attention of the artisans in the field of picture hanging has been directed principally at providing both adjustment between the object hung such as the picture and the support member and further to diminishing any possible damage to the support surface.

In the particular area of supporting and illuminating a picture, it has been necessary to date to utilize a separate hanger assembly and lamp-supporting bracket. Generally, the known prior art hangers are utilized to support the picture while a separate lamp bracket is attached adjacent to top of the picture frame. Frequently, heavier hangers have been necessary to compensate for the weight of the lamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a combination adjustable picture mounting and lamp holding bracket assembly that is adapted to be fastened to the back of a picture frame and appropriately hung on a supporting surface such as a wall. The bracket assembly includes a base portion that is secured to the picture frame and means for adjustably positioning the base portion relative to the Wall. The combination picture mounting and lamp holding bracket assembly further includes means for supportably receiving an extension member of a lamp so that it can be positioned beyond the perimeter of the picture frame for illuminating the picture.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the adjustable picture mounting and lamp holding bracket assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention mounted on a picture frame and supporting a lamp.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the adjustable picture mounting and lamp holding bracket assembly 2 of the present invention is disclosed. The bracket assembly includes a base portion 4 that is divided into a first and second part 6 and 8 respectively. The two parts 6 and 8 of the base portion 4 are interconnected by a crosssectionally U-shaped support member 10.

The bracket assembly 2 is symmetrical about its longitudinal plane and, therefore, can assume an operative position on either side of the bracket assembly 2. In the preferred embodiment,-the bracket assembly originally consists of a single blank piece of sheet metal which is respectively punched or cut and then bent to the desired configuration. The bracket assembly 2, however, can be die-cast or even made from plastic.

Both the first base portion 6 and] the second base portion 8 include a pluralilty of holes 12 adapted to receive fastener members such as nails or screws 14. The number of holes 12 and their particular location can be varied depending upon the relative size of the bracket assembly 2. Frequently, it is desirable to have a relatively long bracket assembly particularly with heavier frames to insure adequate securement between the picture frame 16 and the bracket assembly 2. Modification of the length of the bracket assembly 2 and the number and location of holes 12 is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention since it would be suggested to a person skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure.

Extending from the surface of the bifurcated base portion 4 is a band member 18 that extends across the Ushaped support member 10 and terminates, respectively, in a first base portion 6 and the second base portion 8. The band member 18 is cut from and extends across the resulting opening in both the U-shaped support member 10 and portions of the first base portion 6 and second base portion 8 The band member 18 has serrations 20. The serrations 20 in the preferred em bodiment are semi-circular cuts. However, it should be realized that other geometrical forms of serrations 20 could be utilized such as a triangular or saw-tooth configuration.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the band member 18 is relatively flat for a majority of its length. This flat portion of the band member 18 lies in the plane AA. This plane AA extends parallel to the plane BB which contains the bifurcated base portion 4. The U-shaped support member 10 extends into and between the respective parallel planes AA and BB.

The serrations are adapted to cooperate with a fastener member (not shown) such as a nail attached to a support surface such as a wall. The bracket assembly 2 permits an adjustment between the bracket assembly 3 ber 24 is appropriately attached to the lamp member 22 by, for example, screws 26. It should be realized that the extension member 24 could be manufactured as a unitary piece with the lamp member 22 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The extension member 24 includes a series of threaded holes 28 adapted to receive a fastener such as a screw 30. The combination of the plurality of threaded holes 28 and the screw 30 permits an adjustment of the relative position of the lamp member 22 and the picture frame 16. It is possible to have the extension member 24 carry a stud member (not shown) that would replace the plurality of adjustable threaded holes 28 whereby the lamp member 22 would have only one relative position to that of the bracket assembly 2. As noted above, various modifications can be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be measured solely from the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination adjustable picture mounting and lamp holding bracket assembly adapted to be fastened to a picture frame and hung on a first support member for positioning the picture frame on a wall or the like and for further supporting a second member extending from the picture frame such as a lamp, comprising:

a pair of base members lying in a first plane and adapted to be secured to the picture frame;

at least one cross sectionally U-shaped member interconnecting the base members for supportingly receiving the lamp so that it extends beyond the perimeter of the picture frame; and

a serrated band member connected to each base member and lying substantially in a second plane wherein the U-shaped member is positioned substantially between the first and second plane, the band member extending beyond the U-shaped member for adjustably positioning the base portions and accordingly the picture frame relative to the first support member.

2. The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein a second cross sectionally U-shaped member interconnects the base members, the serrated band member being cut from and extending across the resulting opening between the U-shaped members.

3. The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the U- shaped member is positioned relative to the plane of the base members to hold the lamp between the picture frame and the U-shaped member.

4. The bracket assembly of claim 2 wherein one side of each U-shaped configuration lies in a plane parallel to both the first and second plane.

5. A combination adjustable picture mounting and lamp holding bracket assembly adapted to be fastened to a picture frame and hung on a first support member such as a nail for positioning the picture frame on a wall or the like and for further supporting a second member extending from the picture frame such as a lamp, comprising;

at least one base member lying in a first plane and adapted to be secured to the picture frame;

at least one lamp supporting member interconnected to the base member for supportingly holding the lamp against the picture frame adjacent the first plane so that it extends beyond the perimeter of the picture frame for illuminating a picture in the picture frame, and

a serrated band member interconnected to the base member and lying substantially in a second plane wherein the lamp supporting member is positioned substantially between the first and second plane, the band member extending beyond the lamp supporting member for adjustably positioning the base portions and accordingly the picture frame relative to the first support member.

6. The bracket assembly of claim 5 wherein the lamp supporting member has a cross-sectional U-shape, one side of the U-shaped configuration lying in a plane parallel to both the first and second plane.

7. The bracket assembly of claim 5 further including a second base member and a second lamp supporting member, both supporting members are interconnected to each of the base members, the serrated band member being cut from and extending across the resulting opening between the lamp supporting members.

8. The bracket assembly of claim 5 wherein the band member is serrated on both sides.

9. The bracket assembly of claim 8 wherein the bracket assembly is symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis of the bracket assembly.

10. The bracket assembly of claim 2 wherein the I bracket assembly is symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis of the bracket assembly.

* l l l= 

1. A combination adjustable picture mounting and lamp holding bracket assembly adapted to be fastened to a picture frame and hung on a first support member for positioning the picture frame on a wall or the like and for further supporting a second member extending from the picture frame such as a lamp, comprising: a pair of base members lying in a first plane and adapted to be secured to the picture frame; at least one cross sectionally U-shaped member interconnecting the base members for supportingly receiving the lamp so that it extends beyond the perimeter of the picture frame; and a serrated band member connected to each base member and lying substantially in a second plane wherein the U-shaped member is positioned substantially between the first and second plane, the band member extending beyond the U-shaped member for adjustably positioning the base portions and accordingly the picture frame relative to the first support member.
 2. The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein a second cross sectionally U-shaped member interconnects the base members, the serrated band member being cut from and extending across the resulting opening between the U-shaped members.
 3. The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the U-shaped member is positioned relative to the plane of the base members to hold the lamp between the picture frame and the U-shaped member.
 4. The bracket assembly of claim 2 wherein one side of each U-shaped configuration lies in a plane parallel to both the first and second plane.
 5. A combination adjustable picture mounting and lamp holding bracket assembly adapted to be fastened to a picture frame and hung on a first support member such as a nail for positioning the picture frame on a wall or the like and for further supporting a second member extending from the picture frame such as a lamp, comprising; at least one base member lying in a first plane and adapted to be secured to the picture frame; at least one lamp supporting member interconnected to the base member for supportingly holding the lamp against the picture frame adjacent the first plane so that it extends beyond the perimeter of the picture frame for illuminating a picture in the picture frame, and a serrated band member interconnected to the base member and lying substantially in a second plane wherein the lamp supporting member is positioned substantially between the first and second plane, the band member extending beyond the lamp supporting member for adjustably positioning the base portions and accordingly the picture frame relative to the first support member.
 6. The bracket assembly of claim 5 wherein the lamp supporting member has a cross-sectional U-shape, one side of the U-shaped configuration lying in a plane parallel to both the first and second plane.
 7. The bracket assembly of claim 5 further including a second base member and a second lamp supporting member, both supporting members are interconnected to each of the base members, the serrated band member being cut from and extending across the resulting opening between the lamp supporting members.
 8. The bracket assembly of claim 5 wherein the band member is serrated on botH sides.
 9. The bracket assembly of claim 8 wherein the bracket assembly is symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis of the bracket assembly.
 10. The bracket assembly of claim 2 wherein the bracket assembly is symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis of the bracket assembly. 